Singlet molecular nitrogen in the Auroral ionosphere and under the conditions of laboratory discharge

Using the suggested model of the electron kinetics of N$_2$ singlet states, the population of the vibrational levels in the molecular nitrogen states $(a')^1\Sigma^-_u$, $a^1\Pi_g$, and $w^1\Delta_u$ is calculated for the case when fast auroral electrons penetrate into the Earth’s ionosphere. It is shown for the first time that the population distribution of the vibrational levels $v$ = 0–6 in the state $a^1\Pi_g$ in the auroral ionosphere and also in a laboratory discharge varies with atmospheric pressure insignificantly. Similar calculations for pure nitrogen atmosphere show a considerable increase in the populations of lower vibrational levels ($v$ = 0–2) with rising pressure.